by Alfonz Juck
Piotr Lisek, photo by PhotoRun.net
Lisek 600 cm
POTSDAM (GER, Feb 4): Piotr Lisek cleared as first Polish pole vaulter six meters. It happened at the 18th edition of the pole vault meet in Sterncenter Shopping Center of Potsdam. Lisek won the competition, the result is also new World lead. He started with 543 and 563 in first, then 573 and 583 in second. First WL and national mark 593 in second and the same with 6 meters in second attempt. He is 10th ever to go over that barrier indoors. Second Croatian Ivan Horvat and third Karsten Dilla 563, fourth Florian Gaul 553 and fifth new national indoor record for Philippines Ernest John Obiena 543.
RunBlogRun opines: Piotr Lisek is the top Polish pole vaulter of his era, and is also one of the finest European vaulters of his era. He won the bronze medal in Prague in 2015 for the European Indoors. He won bronze medalist in Beijing World Outdoor Champs and also took bronze in the World Indoors in 2016 in Portland. His heart breaking fourth in Rio showed that he is always now, one of the medal contenders. I watched him vault in 2015 at the Malmo Indoor Meeting, and was impressed with his vaulting skills. Six meters is a huge deal. It is not like a four minute mile, it is like a 3:50 mile (3:32 for 1,500m ). Lisek has moved up another step in the pole vault wars.
